Academy will help 'drive vehicle battery work'

An education provider has launched a venture aimed at accelerating electric vehicle battery advances.

New College Durham has unveiled the Battery Training & Skills Academy.

Bosses say it will “make the region a hotbed of talent for the electric vehicle battery industry”.

They add it will train “hundreds of staff and potential recruits” at Sunderland battery factory operator AESC, with the firm a partner on the endeavour.

The base, funded by the Faraday Battery Challenge – led by Innovate UK and UK Research and Innovation – will also be run in collaboration with Newcastle University.

It was officially opened in a ceremony by North East mayor Kim McGuinness.

Andy Broadbent, New College Durham principal and chief executive, said: “With the correct levels of research and training, electric vehicles and the battery environment can provide huge opportunities for innovation and growth in the North East.

“I am immensely proud New College Durham is well positioned to play a leading role in generating innovative and sustainable technologies.”

Mayor McGuinness added: “The North East is at the cusp of a new era of jobs and prosperity in the industries of the future, with huge potential in sectors such as battery technology, electric vehicles and offshore.

“I'm delighted to see how New College Durham is working with employers to train a highly skilled and well-paid workforce.”

Hailing the potential of its Battery Training & Skills Academy partnership, Jeff Pratt, head of UK operations at AESC – which is building a second vehicle battery pack-making plant on Wearside – added: “This will make the region a hotbed of talent for the battery industry.”

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